Gangi giving it another try in Northern League / Ashland High School graduate is back in baseball wi

Thursday

Aug 3, 2006 at 1:00 AM

Dusty Sloan

By DUSTY SLOANT-G Sports EditorNot too long ago, Aaron Gangi had given up playing baseball.Now, theyre going to have to rip the ball, jersey and glove away from him.After more than a year away from the game, Gangi, a left-handed pitcher and Ashland High School graduate, has resurfaced with the Edmonton Cracker-Cats of the independent Northern League. Gangi signed with Edmonton July 24.In his first two appearances with the Cracker-Cats, both in relief, Gangi allowed five hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings, striking out three and not walking a batter.Having a year off, I definitely learned how well you have it, he said. Now that Ive seen the other side, I appreciate it so much now. I have a new-found love and desire for it.The fact Gangi is back on a mound in a professional baseball game after more than a year is one thing. How he got there is another.Gangi, 24, was released by the Washington (Pa.) Wild Things of the independent Frontier League July 13, 2005. He had appeared in nine games (all starts), and was 4-2 with a 5.64 earned run average.His stint with the Wild Things came after being released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays March 21, 2005, less than two years after being drafted by the Rays in the 14th round out of the University of Akron.Gangi was 5-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 14 starts with Class A short-season Hudson Valley in 2003, earning a spot on the New York-Penn League All-Star Team, but was 2-9 with a 8.19 ERA in 31 games (11 starts) at Class A Charleston (S.C.) in 2004.In both cases of being released, Gangi said it was because he wasnt pitching to his ability and had lost his confidence.After his release from the Wild Things, Gangi went back to Akron to work construction and go to school. He had an invitation to try out for the San Diego Padres in September, but hadnt gotten his velocity up high enough.At that point, Gangi, who married wife Tracy in September, thought the baseball part of his life was over.I didnt want to be one of those guys who chased a dream that wasnt going to happen, he said.In January, Gangi was laid off from his construction job, and had collected unemployment for about a month. When he went to a temp agency, he ended up at College Book Service, talking to Terry Jennings.They didnt talk about a job. They talked about Gangi returning to the baseball field. The result was Gangi training since March to get back into organized baseball, and Jennings taking care of the finances.God definitely had his hand on me, said Gangi.Gangi explained that the reason Jennings took an interest in his story was because Jennings father played minor league baseball, gave it up and later regretted it.He didnt want me to have that (regret), said Gangi.Now, after a couple relief outings under his belt, Gangi will make his first starting assignment in more than a year Friday at home against the Gary (Ind.) RailCats.My velocitys up, said Gangi. I got to 91 (miles per hour) last game, (and) to 88-89 regularly.There is a month left in the Northern League season, and Gangis goals are to help the Cracker-Cats as much as he can in a playoff chase. After that, he will attempt to get back in organized baseball, and said the Cleveland Indians organization was interested.If a return to a major league organization isnt in the cards, Gangi said he would love to come back to Edmonton.The weathers beautiful, Gangi said. I come out here, and everyones dressed like its October. Edmontons a nice little town.Terry really inspired me to never give up. Ive had a lot of support from my family and wife. Im going to keep playing until they make me stop.n Contact Dusty Sloan, sports editor, at 419-281-0581, ext. 244, or dsloan@times-gazette.com.